Photoshop Basics

[ravells]

I loved the one in which he edits out the wedding band. Great find!

[Dracorat]

RPMiller has asked I add this info that I posted in a different forum, to this one, so here goes...

• So, you opened the program and want to open up a document? Still going to FILE - OPEN? Stop that! Double click the gray space. Need a new document instead? Hold CTRL while you double click.
• Working with an image and you dragged the bounds larger than the image, exposing gray area around that image? You can recolor it with the FILL tool (the bucket) by holding shift down. (Great when you're a Web Programmer making images for an off-color background...)
• Little screen and too many windows, but you use them a lot? Try using the TAB key. For the really adventurous, try the F key too.
• Brought up a filter, fiddled around with settings and then realized the defaults would serve you better, but now the defaults are your tweaked but not helpful settings? Hold the ALT and click the CANCEL button on the window.
• Need to make a pixel-precise selection? Try hitting the CAPSLOCK button.
• See the arrows between the foreground color and the background color? "X" is the shortcut key for pressing that. (Handy when you have the interface turned off)
• Using the paint brush and need to move something over a bit? No matter what your tool is, the CTRL key will always make the current tool become the manipulation arrow.
• Still using that brush and want 50% opacity? Type the number "5". 60%? Type "6" - if you want two digit opacity, type both numbers quickly. (Type 0 for 100%)
• Trying to make a straight line? Click on the beginning once (creates a dot on the page) then move to the end point, hold the SHIFT and click there. Straight lines!!
• Zoomed in and need to pan around? Try the SPACEBAR!!
• Photoshop can do polar arrays, but few people know how. - Create what is to be arrayed on one layer. Press CTRL ALT T to duplicate the layer and start a free transform at the same time. Use ALT to drag the center point to the proper center point (the circle that the layer rotates around) then type in the angle box the proper degrees of rotation for one piece. (If you wanted to polar array for 8 objects, 360/8=45 degrees for example) then confirm the rotation (with the checkbox) After confirmation, press CTRL ALT SHIFT T to do it again and again until your polar array is complete. Hold it down if you are doing a lot of objects (like 1 degree increments).
• When typing with the type tool, you can end the typing by using the numpad enter key.
• Want to move something but not sure you're on the correct layer? Right click that object while pointing at it with the pointer tool then choose the layer you want. Sure you're pointing at the right object but not sure you're on the right layer (or know for certain you're not?) just hold CTRL - the first object under the cursor will be moved instead of the current layer.
• Not sure which option you need in a drop down list? Click directly inside the list drop down (if it opens the drop down, click again to close the drop down) and then use the UP and DOWN arrows on your keyboard.
• When you move one layer do you want another to move with it? Link them by holding SHIFT and clicking the other layer in the layer pallette. Need a bunch of layers to be associated? Create a folder, then select the folder directly when moving stuff around.

[RPMiller]

Thank you sir! REPPED!

[JFJohnny5]

Zoomed in and need to pan around? Try the SPACEBAR!!

Ahh. The best Photoshop quick tip in existence. Whenever I'm introducing new users to the software, this is always the first tip I give them. Good stuff!!

[Badger]

found this one on photoshop
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthre...?f=14&t=247294

forgive me if its already been posted

[amehatrekkie]

I learned through lynda.com $25 a month but well worth it

[ravells]

Here is another good tip:

Want to merge a number of layers into a single layer while keeping your original layers?

Hold down the ALT key and go to layers / merge visible. It will create a merged layer on top of your existing layers.

Are you an octopus? You can get the same result by using keystrokes only by pressing (at the same time):

Cntrl+Shift+Alt+Right Cntrl+E

[ZombieButch]

Here is another good tip:

Want to merge a number of layers into a single layer while keeping your original layers?

Hold down the ALT key and go to layers / merge visible. It will create a merged layer on top of your existing layers.

Are you an octopus? You can get the same result by using keystrokes only by pressing (at the same time):

Cntrl+Shift+Alt+Right Cntrl+E

Just Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E actually! You don't need to hit both Ctrl buttons. The command is called 'Stamp Visible'.

[Steel General]

Just seeing that key combination makes my fingers hurt.

[mallachain]

Here is another excellent video tutorial site: http://revision3.com/pixelperfect/

It's hosted by Bert Monroy, and he posts a new tutorial every monday morning.